Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Shoreline Change Maps for Tidewater Maryland (PDF format)

contact: Christopher Williams (christopherp.williams@maryland.gov)

PLEASE NOTE: These data are for illustration purposes only. Do not use these documents for navigation, legal purposes, or any critical applications. They were created only to illustrate our publications and are not accurate enough to be used for any other purposes.

These are vector format files. Unlike raster images they can be rescaled without distortion. The files on this page were created in ArcGIS 8.3 and consist mainly of polyline segments of the shorelines that are shown on the PDF maps. The dates of these shorelines range from the mid 1800's to the 1990's. Three file formats are available:  Autodesk's Drawing Exchange Format (.DXF), ESRI's Shapefile (.SHP) and Arc Export (.E00) formats. These are widely accepted vector data standards and are used by programs such as AutoCAD, ArcGIS, ArcInfo, CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, JASC's Paint Shop Pro, Bryce 3D, 3D Studio Max, and many Intergraph programs. The ESRI .SHP file format contains shoreline attribute data.

A complete metadata file accompanies each file. You may also download the complete metadata in a zipped filed here. The metadata describe map projections, attributes, compilation procedures and all other critical parameters necessary to the proper use of the data.

The maps are available in two groupings, found in the charts below:

To download data click on the desired file format in the table below. Files have been compressed with Winzip to decrease download times. You will not be able to view the files on-line.

We also have Shoreline Change Maps in PDF format available for download.

Detail from the Annapolis shoreline change map
Shoreline Change Map Example

Shoreline Change Maps by Quadrangle

Place your mouse over the index map below to find a quadrangle name. Click on the map to view or download the PDF map. You can also download file from the quadrangle name table below.
map of chesapeake bay with geologic quad overlay Annapolis Quad Gibson Island Quad Kent Island Quad Love Point Quad Langford Creek Quad Centerville Quad Queenstown Quad Wye Mills Quad Ridgely Quad Denton Quad Hebron Quad Saxis Quad Claiborne Quad St. Michaels Quad Easton Quad Fowling Creek Quad Hobbs Quad Tilghman Quad Oxford Quad Trappe Quad Preston Quad Federalsburg Quad Church Creek Quad Cambridge Quad East New Market Quad Rhodesdale Quad Golden Hill Quad Blackwater River Quad Chicamacomico Quad Mardela Springs Quad Honga Quad Wingate Nanticoke Quad Wetipquin Quad Eden Quad Salisbury Quad Richland Point Quad Bloodsworth Island Quad Deal Island Quad Monie Quad Princess Anne Quad Dividing Creek Quad Snow Hill Selbyville Quad Assawoman Bay Quad Ocean City Quad Public Landing Quad Girdletree Quad Boxiron Quad Whittington Post Quad Kingston Quad Pocomoke City Quad Marion Quad Terrapin Sand Point Quad Kedges Straits Quad Ewell Quad Great Fox Island Quad Crisfield Quad Taylors Island Quad Hudson Quad Point Lookout Quad Tinles Island Quad Berlin Quad Alexandria Quad Mount Vernon Quad Quantico Quad Indian Head Quad Port Tobacco Quad Widewater Quad Nanjemoy Quad Mathias Point Quad Popes Creek Quad Charlotte Hall Quad King George Quad Colonial Beach North Quad Rock Point Quad Stratford Hall Quad Leonardtown Quad St. Clements Island Quad Piney Point Quad Solomons Island Quad St. Georges Island Quad Point No Point Quad Barren Island St. Marys City Quad Hollywood Quad Mechanicsville Quad Broomes Island Quad Cove Point Quad Benedict Quad Prince Frederick Quad Lower Marlboro Quad Bristol Quad North Beach Quad Deale Quad South River Quad Round Bay Quad Curtis Bay Quad Baltimore West Quad Baltimore East Quad Sparrows Point Quad Middle River Quad White Marsh Quad Edgewood Quad Gunpowder Neck Quad Perryman Quad Aberdeen Quad Havre de Grace Northeast Quad Elkton Quad Earleville Quad Cecilton Quad Spesutie Quad Hanesville Quad Betterton Quad Galena Quad Millington Quad Swan Point Rock Hall Quad Chestertown Quad Church Hill Quad
Click on a format name to download data in ESRI shape (shp), Autodesk drawing exchange (dxf), or ESRI export exchange (e00) formats.
Quadrangle Names and Shorelines Available Format Quadrangle Names and Shorelines Available Format
A: Aberdeen - 1994 shp dxf e00 M: Mardela Springs - 1988 shp dxf e00
Alexandria - 1862, 1974, 1993 shp dxf e00 Marion - 1852, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00
Annapolis - 1847, 1934, 1965, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00 Mathias Point - 1862, 1904, 1961, 1993 shp dxf e00
Assawoman Bay - 1850, 1942, 1962, 1989 shp dxf e00 Mechanicsville - 1860, 1942, 1944, 1993 shp dxf e00
B: Baltimore East - 1975, 1994 shp dxf e00 Middle River - 1847, 1936, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00
Baltimore West - 1974, 1994 shp dxf e00 Millington - 1937, 1976, 1992, 1995 shp dxf e00
Barren Island - 1848, 1942, 1993, 1994 shp dxf e00 Monie - 1849, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00
Benedict - 1849, 1942, 1944, 1993 shp dxf e00 Mount Vernon - 1862, 1939, 1973, 1974, 1993 shp dxf e00
Berlin - 1849, 1942, 1962, 1989 shp dxf e00 N: Nanjemoy - 1862, 1903, 1961, 1972, 1993 shp dxf e00
Betterton - 1845, 1943, 1976, 1995 shp dxf e00 Nanticoke - 1849, 1942, 1988, 1995 shp dxf e00
Blackwater River - 1995 shp dxf e00 North Beach - 1847, 1934, 1960, 1993 shp dxf e00
Bloodsworth Island -1942, 1988 shp dxf e00 North East - 1845, 1976, 1995 shp dxf e00
Boxiron - 1850, 1942, 1962, 1989 shp dxf e00 O: Ocean City - 1850, 1942, 1962, 1977, 1989 shp dxf e00
Bristol - 1942, 1944, 1993, 1994 shp dxf e00 Oxford - 1847, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00
Broomes Island - 1860, 1942, 1960, 1993 shp dxf e00 P: Perryman - 1845, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00
C: Cambridge - 1848, 1940, 1943, 1995 shp dxf e00 Piney Point - 1868, 1943, 1958, 1959, 1993 shp dxf e00
Cecilton - 1995 shp dxf e00 Pocomoke City - 1989 shp dxf e00
Centreville - 1992 shp dxf e00 Point Lookout - 1849, 1942, 1955, 1993 shp dxf e00
Charlotte Hall - 1868, 1942, 1959, 1993 shp dxf e00 Point No Point - 1848, 1943, 1955, 1958, 1993 shp dxf e00
Chestertown - 1846, 1992 shp dxf e00 Popes Creek - 1862, 1943, 1959, 1961, 1993 shp dxf e00
Chicamacomico River -1995 shp dxf e00 Port Tobacco - 1862, 1973, 1993 shp dxf e00
Church Creek -1841, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00 Preston - 1848, 1944, 1995 shp dxf e00
Church Hill - 1992 shp dxf e00 Prince Frederick -1848, 1942, 1960, 1993 shp dxf e00
Claiborne - 1847, 1937, 1942, 1961, 1992, 1994 shp dxf e00 Princess Anne - 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00
Colonial Beach North - 1863, 1942, 1958, 1961, 1993 shp dxf e00 Public Landing - 1849, 1942, 1961, 1989 shp dxf e00
Cove Point - 1848, 1942, 1993 shp dxf e00 Q: Quantico - 1862, 1939, 1972, 1993 shp dxf e00
Crisfield - 1851, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00 Queenstown - 1846, 1942, 1992 shp dxf e00
D: Curtis Bay - 1846, 1934, 1975, 1994 shp dxf e00 R: Rhodesdale - 1988, 1995 shp dxf e00
Deal Island - 1849, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00 Richland Point - 1849, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00
Deale - 1846, 1934, 1944, 1994 shp dxf e00 Ridgely - 1992 shp dxf e00
Denton - 1995 shp dxf e00 Rock Hall - 1845, 1942, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00
Dividing Creek - 1989 shp dxf e00 Rock Point - 1868, 1942, 1958, 1959, 1993 shp dxf e00
E: Earleville - 1845, 1937, 1976, 1995> shp dxf e00 Round Bay - 1845, 1934, 1965, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00
East New Market - 1848, 1940, 1944, 1995 shp dxf e00 S: Salisbury - 1989 shp dxf e00
Easton - 1900, 1942, 1995 shp dxf e00 Saxis - 1851, 1942, 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00
Eden - 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00 Selbyville - 1850, 1942, 1961, 1989 shp dxf e00
Edgewood - 1846, 1974, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00 Sharptown - 1989 shp dxf e00
Elkton - 1845, 1938, 1976, 1995 shp dxf e00 Snow Hill - 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00
Ewell - 1849, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00 Solomons Island - 1848, 1942, 1943, 1993 shp dxf e00
F: Federalsburg - 1995 shp dxf e00 South River - 1847, 1934, 1944, 1965, 1994 shp dxf e00
Fowling Creek - 1995 shp dxf e00 Sparrows Point - 1846, 1934, 1975, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00
G: Galena - 1846, 1937, 1943, 1976, 1992, 1995 shp dxf e00 Spesutie - 1846, 1938, 1976, 1995 shp dxf e00
Gibson Island - 1845, 1898, 1942, 1965, 1975, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00 St. Clements Island - 1942, 1958, 1993 shp dxf e00
Girdletree - 1843, 1942, 1963, 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00 St. George Island -1858, 1942, 1943, 1958, 1993 shp dxf e00
Golden Hill - 1848, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00 St. Marys City - 1853, 1958, 1993 shp dxf e00
Great Fox Island -1849, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00 St. Michaels - 1847, 1937, 1942, 1992, 1994 shp dxf e00
Gunpowder Neck - 1846, 1933, 1974, 1994 shp dxf e00 Stratford Hall - 1868, 1943, 1958, 1993 shp dxf e00
H: Hallwood - 1989 shp dxf e00 Sudlersville - 1992 shp dxf e00
Hanesville - 1845, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00 Swan Point - 1846, 1938, 1976, 1994 shp dxf e00
Havre de Grace -1845, 1976, 1995 shp dxf e00 T: Taylors Island - 1848, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00
Hebron - 1989 shp dxf e00 Terrapin Sand Point - 1849, 1942, 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00
Hobbs - 1995 shp dxf e00 Tilghman - 1847, 1937, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00
Hollywood - 1848, 1942, 1993 shp dxf e00 Tingles Island - 1849, 1942, 1962, 1989 shp dxf e00
Honga - 1848, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00 Trappe - 1848, 1942, 1995 shp dxf e00
Horseshoe Point - 1846, 1847, 1934, 1937, 1943, 1944, 1994 shp dxf e00 W: Wetipquin - 1849, 1942, 1988 shp dxf e00
Hudson - 1847, 1942, 1994 shp dxf e00 White Marsh -1994 shp dxf e00
I: Indian Head - 1862, 1973, 1993 shp dxf e00 Whittington Point - 1850, 1942, 1962, 1989 shp dxf e00
K: Kedges Straits -1942, 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00 Widewater - 1862, 1904, 1972, 1993 shp dxf e00
Kent Island - 1844, 1942, 1961, 1976, 1992 shp dxf e00 Wingate - 1849, 1942, 1995 shp dxf e00
King George -1862, 1903, 1961, 1972, 1993 shp dxf e00 Wye Mills - 1992 shp dxf e00
Kingston - 1988, 1989 shp dxf e00
L: Langford Creek - 1846, 1942, 1992 shp dxf e00
Leonardtown - 1958, 1993 shp dxf e00
Love Point - 1846, 1942, 1976, 1992 shp dxf e00
Lower Marlboro - 1859, 1942, 1993 shp dxf e00
Shoreline Change by County
Index Map for Shoreline Change Data by County
Shoreline Change Maps by County The complete metadata for above maps is available here
County File Format (file size, kilobytes)
Anne Arundel shp (4,337) dxf (3,003) e00 (6,182)
Baltimore shp (2,605) dxf (1,815) e00 (3,642)
Baltimore City shp (199) dxf (150) e00 (1,986)
Calvert shp (3,587) dxf (2,388) e00 (5,154)
Caroline shp (961) dxf (673) e00 (1,305)
Cecil shp (1,612) dxf (1,151) e00 (2,118)
Charles shp (2,874) dxf (1,889) e00 (4,131)
Dorchester shp (11,800) dxf (8,078) e00 (17,227)
Harford shp (2,137) dxf (1,479) e00 (3,120)
Kent shp (2,493) dxf (1,774) e00 (3,537)
Prince Georges shp (1,893) dxf (1,267) e00 (2,636)
Queen Annes shp (4,220) dxf (2,961) e00 (5,905)
St. Marys shp (7,063) dxf (4,599) e00 (11,238)
Somerset shp (9,435) dxf (6,391) e00 (15,187)
Talbot shp (5,511) dxf (3,836) e00 (7,969)
Wicomico shp (4,583) dxf (3,118) e00 (6,644)
Worcester shp (10,445) dxf (8,84) e00 (14,379)

Metadata Summary

For the coastal regions of Maryland, the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS) has periodically compiled maps depicting shoreline position at several points in time. The most recent compilation -- the first electronic one -- involved (1) digitizing historical (1841-1977) shoreline maps, all derived directly or indirectly from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration coastal survey maps (topographic or T-sheets), and (2) interpreting recent (1988-1995) shorelines from digital orthophotography. MGS is using the shorelines to update a series of Shoreline Changes maps and to determine coastal land loss, by watershed and by county, during the last half of the 20th century.

This data set contains past shorelines, dating from 1841 to 1995, for 125 7.5-minute quadrangles covering the coastal regions of Maryland (see below). Originally in MicroImage's TNTmips .rvc format, the shoreline vectors have been converted to Arc/Info "Export" (.e00) format. They are registered to the Maryland State Plane Coordinate System (North American Datum of 83, meters).

Spatial Reference Information:

  • Map Projection Name: Lambert Conformal Conic
  • Grid Coordinate System Name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983
  • SPCS Zone Identifier: 1900 (Maryland)
  • Planar Distance Units: meters
  • Horizontal Datum Name: North American Datum of 1983
  • Ellipsoid Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
  • Semi-major Axis: 6,378,137 meters
  • Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257
  • Depth Datum Name: The aerial photography from which the DOQQs were developed was not tide-coordinated.  Therefore, shorelines in this data set does not represent a consistent vertical datum.

Shoreline Attributes:

  • beach
  • vegetated
  • structure
  • water’s edge

All four categories are linear features, except "beach", which, if sufficiently wide, can be both linear and polygonal. Shorelines were merged into 7.5-minute quadrangles, provided that the aerial photography on which the DOQQs were based was flown in the same year.

Please see the complete metadata online or attached to each downloaded data file.


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